Brian James Wright -- husband, dad, uncle, brother, cousin, friend and son -- died unexpectedly on Sunday, July 7.

These words fail our sadness.

But the depth of our current grief is commensurate with the 50 years of joy, laughs, light and warmth he gave us.

Brian loved life. And he showed us all how to do the same.

It's something he surely learned from his sisters, Christine and Jennifer, and inherited from his mom and dad, Fran and Bill, who raised him partly on Gambier Island and partly in North Van, instilling a love of the outdoors, being active, creating great meals and connecting with others.

It makes us happy to imagine Brian and Bill together now, sharing a cup of strong coffee on the deck at Gambier, talking gleefully about their next big project.

Brian loved gardens, so much so that, after graduating with a degree in Applied Sciences and Communications from SFU, he made tending, cultivating, and designing them his living as owner/operator of the Wright Touch Garden Service.

Brian was born into music and grew up playing piano and other instruments. At Handsworth Secondary, he took an active part in the school's music and theatre program. He went on to become the keyboardist/singer/composer for the seminal '80s Vancouver sensations, Mickey Rat and The Brats. At family gatherings, he was on the piano, leading us in song. He was our music.

Brian loved New Westminster, his adopted home, where he and Ellen chose to raise their children, Aidan and Jonah. He relished connecting with neighbours and friends over a beer on a patio or a shared home project.

Most of all, Brian loved his family and close friends. His boys were his world, as were his wife and soul mate, Ellen, and the rest of his supportive and caring family -- Fran; Christine, David, Emily, Corey, Ben, Sam; Jenn, Todd, Josie, Will; John, Jacquie, Geoff; and close friends Anthony, Dwayne and Heather. Brian will be deeply missed by the Downs and Lister family branches, and by longtime friends, the Gutteridges.

A celebration of Brian's life will be held at 11 a.m. on July 27 at Highlands United Church, 3255 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation to the to the Royal City Education Foundation, where a memorial scholarship will be established to support students of music and the performing arts.

Tax deductible donations can be made either by mail to:

The Royal City Education Foundation (RCEF)
1001 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC  V3M 1C4
Charitable Registration Number: 888573649RR0001

Your donation should be marked "In memory of Brian Wright."

Or you can use your credit card by calling:

-Sylvia Chang, Senior Accounting Clerk: 604-517-6361
-Sue McMillan, NWSS Secretary: 604-517-6251

If you would like more information about the RCEF and its work you can find it at:   http://district.sd40.bc.ca/about-sd40/royal-city-education-foundation